Home billiard table



Dec. 18, 1962 G. E. scHAEr-ER HOME BILLIARD TABLE Filed April 21 1958 :1MM .imm raf/infer' earje Ejazae er* Dec. 18, 1962 G. E. scHAEFER 3,069,163

HOME BILLIARD TABLE Filed April 2l 1958 2 snets-sneex 2 United States Patent O 3,069,163 HOME BILLIARD TABLE George Schaefer, Muskegon, Mich., assignor to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 730,016 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-11) vand for guiding the balls to a point of collection.

A more specific object is to provide a new and improved `track means of the type described including tracks suspended beneath the table by flexible hangers of a material lcapable of damping vibrations and reducing noise.

Another object is to provide new and improved ball track means of the type described including tracks sus- -pended beneath the table to collapse closely against the bottom of the table vfor storage or shipment.

A further object is to provide a new and improved ball ,track means of the type described including rails along which billiard balls roll, and flexible hangers suspending the rails beneath the table and forming ball receiving pockets beneath pocket openings in the table.

Other objects and advantages 'will become readily ap- I parent from the followin-g detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a home billiard table embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the billiard table illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on FIG. 2,v

at an enlarged scale, illustrating in plan a billiard ball track embodied in the table illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken .at about the line 4-4 of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional lview taken at about the line 5-5 of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at about the line 6 6 of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken at about the line 7-7 of FIG. 3, illustrating the position of a billiard ball on one section of the track; and

FIG. 8is an enlarged sectional View taken at about H the line 8 8 of FIG. 3,*illustrating the position of a billiard ball on another section of the track.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herei in, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many diiferent forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to l'limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The

scope ofthe invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the invention is embodied in a billiard table including a table top 10 having side rails 11 and 12, end rails 13 and 14, and openings 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21 through the table top and through the rails at corner pockets and side pockets, a .usual arrangement.

As seen best in the sectional views of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6,

the table top 10 comprises a laminated build-up including a core having an outer framing member preferably of wood, extending around the outer edges of the table top, and an inner central portion yof a commercially available honeycomb structure 26 preferablytreated to withstand moisture and warping- -The honeycomb structure.`

3,059,163 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 ICC provides a light Weight material having suicient strength to give necessary rigidity to the table structure. Opposite surfaces of the wood framing member 25 and the honeycomb structure 26 are covered with surface sheets 27 and 28 which are preferably of a commercially available board of pressed bers or the like. The table laminations 25, 26, 27 and 28 are suitably held together as by adhesives. The top iiber board 28 is covered with a feltlike finishing cloth 30 as is conventional in billiard tables. The covering cloth 30 may be held on the table as by nails and with the aid of the side and end rails.

The side and end rails 11-14 are suitably secured to the table top as by screws seen at 32 in FIGS. l, 4 and 6. The rails include cushions 34 suitably secured to the upper edges of the rails along straight portions thereof between pocket openings. Within the pocket openings, the rails have cushions secured thereto as at 35. The cushions 34 are preferably covered by a cloth 37 having one edge suitably secured in a slot in the upper surface of the adjacent rail, as at 38, and having its opposite edge nailed or otherwise secured to the underside of the rail, as at 40, in a recessed area as at `4l., provided to receive the outer edges of the table covering cloth 30.

The table top lil is preferably supported by a collapsible leg structure which forms no part of the present invention and which, accordingly, is shown only in part. The leg structure includes four legs 42, two of which are visible in FIG. 2, each pivoted at its upper end beneath the table top as by brackets 43 (FIGS. l and 2) secured to the under surface of the table top and having pivot pins as at 44 mounting the legs for pivotal movement between the positions illustrated in FIG. 2 and collapsed positions against the under surface of the table top. The two legs adjacent each end may be secured togetherby cross braces (not visible) which insure movement of the two legs in each pair together. The legs are further -reinforced and are held in the unfolded or extended position illustrated by braces 45 which have their lower ends pivotally mounted on midportions of the leg (not visible) and which have their upper ends releasably held in a centrally located bracket 47 (FIGS. l and 2) secured beneath the table top. In this fashion, the braces 45 kmay be retained in the positions illustrated or may be released therefrom in order to permit folding and collapsing of the entire leg structure beneath the table top.

As is customary, the table may include suitable cue racks, one or mare ball racks for storing billiard balls, and a rack supporting counter buttons or beads for keeping score. These are not shown as they form no part of the present invention. According to the invention, the billiard'table include balltrack means providedfor receiving and collecting billiard balls as they drop through .Lthe pocket openings i in the table top. As` seen in FIG. l, a ball track 50 in the form of a wire gully is provided at each side of the table beneath the side and corner pockets. The two tracks are similar in all respects except for their location, an only one will-be described in detail.

As seen in FIGS. l and 2, at the side of the table nearest the viewer, the track 50 extends longitudinally beneath the table top from a position at one end of the table beneath pocket 18 to a position at the other end of the table beneath pocket 17, there being a midportion of the track beneath the side pocket 21. The track consists of a pair of relatively rigid rods 51 and 52 spaced apart less than the diameter of a billiard ball and held in fixed relationship to each other by cross ties 53 in the form of ilat strips of metal each having opposite ends welded to one ofthe rods. Preferably, there are ten of the ties, two being located approximately beneath the corner opening 18, two being located beneath the side `pocket 21, two beneath the corner pocket 17, another two -sections of 50a and 50c is illustrated in FIG. 7.

o J being located between the pockets 18 and 21, and two othersbetween'the pockets 17 and Z1.

As will be understood on viewing FIG. 2, the track includes opposite end portions 50a and Stlb beneath pockets 18 and 17 respectivcly,'whichend portions'are upwardly inclined to the ends of the track relative to the remaining middle portion of the track, the latter of which includes a major part of the track length. The middle portion of the track includes two sections, a rst, 50c, extending from the end portion 50a to a position between the pockets 17 and 21, and a second section 53d extending from the section 50c to the end portion 50h. The

.section 50c is inclined downwardly at a predetermined inclination from the end portion 50a to its juncture with the portion 59d, while the portion 50d has a somewhat 'greater inclination downwardly toward the end portion 50b. The arrangement is such that balls dropping through the pocket openings onto the track roll downwardly toward and collect in the section 50d where they remain until removed by the players, usually in preparation for a succeeding'game.

As will be understood by reference to FIG. 3, the rods 51 and 52 at the end portion Stia and in the section 50c are spaced apart by a predetermined distance less than the diameter of a billiard ball which spacing together with the vinclination of the track is calculated to induce rolling of the balls toward the portion 50d. At the end portion 50h of the track and in the section 50d, the rods 51 and 52 are spaced apart by a predetermined greater distance less than the diameter of a billiard ball, the greater spacing being calculated to slow the movement of the balls as they approach collison with other balls stored for collection in section 56d. More specifically, at the upper end of the track where the rods are narrowly spaced, the rods engage the ball on larger circles of the outer surface of the ball (see FIG. 7) and each revolution of the ball as it rolls carries the ball further than at the lower end of the track where the rods are spaced more widely. At the lower end of the track, the rods engage the ball on smaller circles (see FIG. 8) and thereby tend to cause spinning of the ball on the smaller circles thereby slowing the advance movement of the ball before it comes to rest on the section 50d.

The position of a billiard lball on the narrow track As will be appreciated on viewing this figure, due to the -rather narrow spacing of the rods 51 and 52, the ball rests high on the tracks, and the cross ties 53 may be `substantially flat as illustrated. In the track sections 50d and 501;, where the rods 51 and 52 are more widely spaced, as seen in FIG. 8, the billiard ball rests lower on ithe vrods with asubstantial portion of the ball below the level of the rods. Acco-rdingly, the ties 53a in the track section Stlb have their midportions bent downwardly as seen in FIG. 8 in order to permit free movement of the `balls along the track.

The ball track is supported by hangers of flexible material which have a three fold purpose, that of mounting the track for collapse against the under surface of the table top, that of reducing noise and damping vibrations as the balls drop through pocket openings onto the track and roll along the track, and that of providing pockets beneath the pocket openings. The hangers are illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 and are three'in number, one positioned beneath each of the pocket openings 17, 18 and 21. The

hangers, identified by reference numbers 60, 61 and 62,

are preferably of a plastic material such as a vinyl which is copper coated on the outer surface, though other materials can be used. Each hanger comprises a straplike piece of the plastic or other material in loop form having a substantial length longitudinally of the track as seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, having upper ends of the loop secured beneath `the table top, yhaving the lower portion lof the loop as vat 60a, 61a and 62a supporting the track, and rhaving-:side portions of the loop as yat 60b, 61b and 62b forming pockets -beneath the adjacent overhead pocket opening. Upper ends of the side portions-of the loops include outwardly turned edges or ange-like portions having retaining strips 64 of metal or the like positioned therebeneath and secured to the table top as by screws 65. Lower portions of the loops are secured to the cross ties 53 as by double headed rivets 67 so that the track is attached to the loops. Side portions of the loops extended upwardly and outwardly in oppositely inclined directions so that at the tops, the loop side portions are widely spaced in conformity with the diameter of pocket openings and at the lower ends loop side portions are rather narrowly spaced, conforming to the spacing of the track rods 51 and 52. The length of the loops longitudinally of the track is at least equal or in excess of the diameter of pocket openings through the table top so that the hangers function as pockets for receiving the balls as they drop through pocket openings to direct the balls onto the track. Side portions 60h and 62b of hangers 60 and 62 have a tapering height conforming to the inclination of track sections 50b and 50a respectively. Due to the soft `and. flexible nature of the hangers, the dropping of balls onto the loop material is almost noiseless, and the hangers function to reduce noise and to dampen vibrations transmitted to the ltable as the balls roll along the tracks toward the track section 50d where they collect.

Due to the flexible nature of the hangers, the -track is collapsible against the bottom surface of the table top for purposes of storage or packaging. This feature is especially advantageous when packing the table for shipment as it provides a compact collapsed structure reducing the size of the shipping package. On collapseof the tracks as described, the track ends at the upwardly inclined end portions 50a and Silb are positioned to rise upwardly into ypocket openings 18 vand 17 respectively, thereby enabling a major portion `of the track to lie flat against the bottom of the tabletop.

I claim:

l. In a billiard table yincluding a table top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at corner pockets, the improvement comprising, ball track means including at least one billiard ball track beneath the table top at one side theref extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening at one end of the table to a position beneath another corner pocket opening at the opposite end of the table, and collapsible hangers secured to the table top and forming the sole means supporting the track thereby enabling collapse ofthe track and the hangers against the under surface of the tabletop, each hanger comprising a flexible collapsible sheet material in the form of a loop having a substantial length longitudinally ofthe track and including upper ends secured to the table top at longitudinally spaced positions and a bottom portion supporting the track and secured at 'longitudinally spaced positions.

2. In a billiard table including a table top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at vcorner pockets, the improvement comprising, a pair of ball tracks beneath the table top one at each side thereof and each extending longitudinally of the'table from-a position beneath one corner pocket opening to a position beneath another corner pocket opening, each track having relatively short opposite end portions upwardly inclined to the ends of the track'and relative to the remaining major portion of Vthe'track, collapsible hangers secured to the table top and providing the sole means supporting the tracks thereby enabling collapse of the tracks against the under surface of the table top, said upwardly inclined track ends being normally disposed respectively beneath the corner pocket openings and positionable inthe openings respectively on collapse of the track to thereby .provide a compact collapsed structure.

3. `In a billiardtableincludinga table vtophaving side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at side pockets and corner pockets, the improvement comprising, a pair of ball tracks beneath the table top one at each side thereof and each extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening to a position beneath another corner pocket opening, and hangers for supporting the tracks, one located beneath each pocket opening and each comprising a strap of exible material in loop form having a substantial length longitudinally of the track, upper ends of the loop secured to the table top, a lower portion of the loop supporting the track, and side portions of the loop forming a ball receiving pocket beneath the pocket opening in the table top.

4. In a billiard table including a table top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at side pockets and corner pockets, the improvement comprising, bali track means including at least one billiard ball track beneath the table top at one side thereof extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening at one end of the table to a position beneath another corner pocket opening at the opposite end of the table, and ilexible hangers supporting the track for collapse against the under surface of the table top, one located beneath each pocket opening along one side of the table and comprising a strap of flexible material in loop form having a substantial length longitudinally of the track, upper ends of the loop secured to the `table top, a lower portion of the loop supporting the track, and side portions of the loop forming a ball receiving pocket beneath the adjacent pocket opening having a length and a width at least equal to the diameter of the pocket opening.

5. In a billiard table including a table top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at side pockets and corner pockets, the improvement comprising, ball track means including at least one billiard ball track beneath the table top at one side thereof extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening at one end of the table to a position beneath another corner pocket opening at the opposite end of the table, and means supporting the track with a portion thereof inclined downwardly from one end of the table toward the other including hangers of exible material for deadening sound and damping vibrations, one located beneath each pocket opening along one side of the table and each comprising a strap of flexible material having opposite ends secured to the table top, laterally spaced portions extending downwardly from the ends at opposite sides of the track, and a midportion connecting said laterally spaced portions at their lower ends and supporting the track, said laterally spaced portions forming a ball receiving pocket beneath the adjacent pocket opening.

6. In a billiard table including atable top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at side pockets and corner pockets, the improvement comprising, a pair of ball tracks beneath the table top one at each side thereof and each extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening to a position beneath another corner pocket opening, each track having opposite end portions upwardly inclined to the ends of the track and relative to the remainder of thev track for directing balls toward a midportion or" the track, said remainder of the track being inclined from one of said end portions to the other of said end portions to induce billiard balls to roll along the track, exible hangers secured to the table top and supporting the tracks for collapse against the under surface of the table top, said upwardly inclined track ends being positioned beneath corner pocket openings to project into the openings on collapse of the track to thereby provide a compact collapsed structure, said hangers being comprised of a plastic material for deadening sound and damping vibrations and -being located one beneath each pocket opening and each comprising a strap in loop form having upper ends of the loop secured to the table top, a lower portion of the loop supporting the track, and side portions of the loop forming a ball receiving pocket beneath each pocket opening.

7. In a billiard table including a table top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at corner pockets, the improvement comprising, ball track means including at least one ball track beneath the table top atl one side thereof extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening at one end of the table to a position beneath another corner pocket opening at the opposite ends of the table, said track comprising a pair of rigid rods spaced apart less than the diameter of a billiard ball and means secured to both rods for maintaining the saine in fixed rel-ationship to each other, `said track including a midporion comprising a major part of the track length inclined downwardly from one end of the table toward the other endof the table and opposite end portions inclined upwardly from the ends of said midportion to the ends of the track, the rods lat the upper end of said midportion and at the adjacent upwardly inclined end portion having a predetermined spacing less than the diameter of a billiard ball to induce a high rate of speed for a ball rolling down the track, yand the rods at the lower end of said midportion having a predetermined greater spacing less than the diameter of a billiard ball to induce a reduced rate of travel for a ball rolling down the track, and iiexible hangers supporting the track from the table top.

8. In a billiard table including a table top having side rails, end rails and openings therethrough at side pockets and corner pockets, the improvement comprising, ball track means including at least one ball track be- Qneath the table top at one side thereof extending longitudinally of the table from a position beneath one corner pocket opening at one end of the table to a position beneath ano-ther corner pocket opening at the opposite end of the table, said track comprising a pair of rigid rods spaced apart less than the diameter of a billiard ball and a plurality of ties each secured to both rods for maintaining the saine in fixed relationship to each other, said track including a midportion comprising a major part of the track length inclined downwardly from .one end of the table toward the other end of the table and opposite end portions inclined upwardly from the ends of said midportion to the ends of the track, and ilexible hangers for supporting the tracks for collapse 'against the under surface of the table top, including three hangers for each track, each hanger comprising a strap of flexible material in loop form including upper ends secured to the table top, a bottom portion of the loop supporting the track, and side portions forming pockets positioned respectively beneath pocket openings in the table top, with side portions of the hanger loops at opposite ends of the track having a tapering height conforming to the inclination of the upwardly inclined track end portions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

